Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey

Chapter 837: Prince Ping Side Story (Part 5)

The Empress Dowager Li did not immediately agree.

Jiang Shaohua looked at the Empress Dowager with a calm smile.

The Empress Dowager Li soon couldn’t hold her ground, coughed lightly, and whispered, "Prince Ping is immature, opening a mansion and living separately, I’m afraid the unruly servants will deceive him. Moreover, Feng’s daughter has an innocent and lively personality and may not be capable of managing the internal affairs of Prince Ping Mansion."

"I’m thinking, after Prince Ping gets married, he should continue living in Ning An Palace. I can oversee him for a few years and well train the Princess Ping. Once she is properly trained, they can move out of the palace and live their lives."

Jiang Shaohua smiled slightly and said, "Mother, your love for Prince Ping and your maternal kindness are noted. However, the palace has its own rules. If Prince Ping does not marry, staying in the palace is fine. Since the grand wedding has been scheduled, they should follow the rules and move out from the palace soon."

"This would prevent gossip stating that my heart is narrow, keeping Prince Ping constrained within the palace."

The Empress Dowager Li’s heart shuddered, quickly smiling and saying, "I was inconsiderate, focusing solely on Prince Ping, not realizing it might harm the Emperor’s reputation."

"Mother’s love for Prince Ping greatly comforts me." Jiang Shaohua looked deeply at Empress Dowager Li, "Prince Ping Mansion is just near the imperial palace, after his wedding, Prince Ping can frequently enter the palace to greet mother."

The Empress Dowager Li smiled in agreement but felt a chill in her heart.

Her little intentions were clearly seen through by Jiang Shaohua.

She originally thought that after Prince Ping married, he would still live in Ning An Palace. The Princess Ping would live under her watch, everything would be under her control.

Once Prince Ping moved out to live in Prince Ping Mansion, as the Empress Dowager, she surely couldn’t meddle in everything all the time, thereby greatly reducing her control over Prince Ping.

These concealed contests and wrestling of power were mutually understood. Jiang Shaohua once again had the upper hand.

Jiang Shaohua gave the Empress Dowager enough face without embarrassing her: "Please, mother, send a palace matron to the Feng family to teach Feng family daughter the palace rules."

A stick followed by a sweet date.

The Empress Dowager Li steadied her mind, smilingly accepted the sweet date: "These small matters don’t need to trouble the Emperor, I will handle them."

Jiang Shaohua smiled, "Then I’ll leave it to mother."

After the business was discussed, Jiang Shaohua accompanied the Empress Dowager for lunch before leaving.

The Empress Dowager Li sat alone for a moment and called her trusted palace attendant, Lan Xiang: "Go to the Li family and convey my decree. Let the Li family prepare a dowry for Li Fanghua and have her marry soon."

The matter had come to this point and couldn’t be changed. The Empress Dowager Li decided to make things appear smooth and pleasant.

Li Fanghua, who was confined in her boudoir, cried heartily after Lan Xiang visited the Li family.

...

On the twelfth of September, in the ninth year of Zhaoping, amidst the refreshing autumn.

Prince Ping’s grand wedding.

After being repeatedly taught for a month, on the wedding day, wearing a red wedding robe, Prince Ping didn’t run around but stayed put, waiting for the bride.

During the ceremony, a not-so-small joke occurred. Prince Ping eagerly lifted the bride’s veil in front of everyone.

The guests weren’t sure whether to laugh or not. Fortunately, the palace wedding maid was experienced and prepared for such emergencies, promptly went forward, replaced the veil, and coaxed Prince Ping: "Your Highness, don’t rush, once you enter the bridal chamber, you can lift the bride’s veil."

From under the red veil came Feng Wushuang’s voice: "Your Highness, please wait a little longer."

The bride speaking during the ceremony was also a novelty. This Princess Ping truly matched Prince Ping.

Unable to hold back any longer, the crowd burst into laughter.

Prince Ping grinned widely, obediently performed the rites, and excitedly led his bride into the bridal chamber holding the red silk.

As soon as Feng Wushuang sat on the bed’s edge, the veil was removed.

Prince Ping, wearing a vibrant red wedding outfit, looked like a festive candied hawthorn, his handsome, plump, fair face gleaming.

"Sister Wushuang," Prince Ping called her cheerfully, "from now on we can be together every day."

Indeed, over the past months, Prince Ping had frequently seen Feng Wushuang. The rule forbidding unmarried couples to meet was of no use to him. His insistence on leaving the palace to visit the Feng family left Eunuch Ge with no choice but to accompany him. After two visits, Empress Dowager Li simply invited Feng Wushuang to stay temporarily at Ning An Palace, ostensibly to learn the future Princess Ping’s duties, but in fact, to facilitate meetings between the young unmarried couple.

No need to worry about Prince Ping overstepping boundaries. Prince Ping still had childish temperaments and had no clue about matters between men and women, spending every day playing in the Imperial Garden with Feng Wushuang.

Feng Wushuang could use a slingshot, hitting birds spot on, even fish with a net and scoop. Whether it was catching locusts, fighting crickets, or climbing trees to pick fruit, she could do it all, an excellent playmate.

Prince Ping was having a blast with his fiancée each day. Unfortunately, Feng Wushuang returned to the Feng family a month before the wedding, and both were confined to learn the rules.

After a month of waiting, Prince Ping was overjoyed to see his newlywed on this day.

Feng Wushuang, her eyebrows curved, smiled sweetly: "I’ve been thinking about Your Highness every day too."

Prince Ping, holding Feng Wushuang’s hand, couldn’t stop laughing.

Nearby, the wedding maid tried to get Prince Ping to drink the nuptial wine. Prince Ping impatiently shooed the maid away, causing the scene to become chaotic. Fortunately, Feng Wushuang spoke up, calming Prince Ping: "Once we drink the nuptial wine, we become husband and wife, sharing each day together."

Prince Ping, having been taught for a month, barely understood the meaning of sharing each day together and naturally calmed down.

The wine in the cup was rice wine, with a faint sweetness, smooth, fragrant, and delicious.

After drinking, Prince Ping, unsatisfied, asked for another cup.

The wedding maid thought this was too unorthodox. The nuptial wine is supposed to be one cup; how could there be an extra cup? But Prince Ping was unreasonable, demanding another drink. Left with no choice, the wedding maid poured him another cup of wedding wine.

Feng Wushuang found the rice wine sweet and tasty as well, she handed her cup to the wedding maid: "Pour me one too."

The wedding maid: "..."

A jug of rice wine drunk up by the bride and groom, cup by cup.

Prince Ping’s face was flushed red, and he kept giggling foolishly.

The Princess Ping, Feng Wushuang, also felt tipsy, her cheeks rosy.

The wedding maid signaled to the crowd, who quietly exited. Loyal Eunuch Ge stayed at the door, paying attention to the faint sounds from the bridal chamber.

Prince Ping: "Huh? Why are you taking off my clothes?"

Princess Ping: "My mother taught me."

Prince Ping: "Oh!"

After a while, Prince Ping muttered again: "Why are you taking off your clothes too."

Princess Ping: "This is how we become a couple."

Prince Ping: "Oh!"

Another while passed, Prince Ping suddenly exclaimed: "Why are you touching me? Why am I like this?"

Princess Ping finally felt too embarrassed to respond.

Eunuch Ge couldn’t help but grin, silently moved a few feet away, and looked up at the bright moon in the sky.

The moon tonight was truly bright.